Senior Applied Scientist - NBA 2K

<h3><span>Who We Are</span></h3> <p><span>2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two&nbsp;</span><span>Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global </span><span>video game company, publishing titles developed by some of the most influential </span><span>game development studios in the world. Our studios responsible for developing 2K’s </span><span>portfolio of world-class games across multiple platforms, include Visual Concepts, </span><span>Firaxis, Hangar 13, CatDaddy, Cloud Chamber, 31st Union, HB Studios, and 2K </span><span>SportsLab. Our portfolio of titles is expanding due to our global strategic plan, building </span><span>and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire all of us! 2K </span><span>publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including sports, shooters, </span><br><span>action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment.</span></p> <p><span>Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers </span><span>and doers, are the professional publishing stewards of </span><span>2K’s portfolio currently </span><span>includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global </span><span>powerhouse NBA®️ 2K, renowned BioShock®️ , Borderlands®️ , Mafia, Sid Meier’s </span><span>Civilization®️ and XCOM®️ brands; popular WWE®️ 2K and WWE®️ SuperCard </span><span>franchises, TopSpin 2K25, as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA </span><span>TOUR®️ 2K.</span></p> <p><span>At 2K, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive work environment, which means&nbsp; </span><span>encouraging our teams to Come as You Are and do your best work! We encourage ALL </span><span>applicants to explore our global positions, even if they don’t meet every requirement </span><br><span>for the role. If you're interested in the job and think you have what it takes to work at </span><span>2K, we encourage you to apply!</span></p> <h3><span>What We Need</span></h3> <p>The Applied AI Team within 2K’s Product Organization is seeking a <strong>Sr. Applied Scientist</strong> to contribute to the continued innovation behind our flagship title, <strong>NBA 2K</strong>. This team builds production-grade algorithmic systems that directly shape the player experience. Our work spans core areas such as:</p> <ul> <li>Matchmaking</li> <li>In-game experience personalization</li> <li>Player engagement</li> <li>In-game economy</li> <li>Content optimization</li> <li>Fraud detection</li> </ul> <p>We combine techniques from machine learning, statistics, operations research, and economics, and partner closely with engineering, game design, and LiveOps to bring AI-driven decisioning to life across the game.</p> <h3><strong>What You'll Do</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Research, build, and deploy advanced machine learning and optimization models to improve gameplay and player engagement.</li> <li>Work across areas like matchmaking, ranking systems, personalization, and in-game economy modeling.</li> <li>Collaborate with game development, LiveOps, tech and data engineers, and product managers to scope high-impact problems and deliver solutions.</li> <li>Lead technical discussions, advocate for best practices in model development and deployment, and ensure scientific rigor.</li> <li>Stay informed on state-of-the-art techniques, evaluate their applicability, and lead efforts to integrate promising methods into our systems.</li> </ul> <h3><strong>What Will Make You a Great Fit</strong></h3> <p>We are seeking a hands-on senior scientist who combines deep technical expertise in machine learning with strong product sense and a track record of delivering high-impact, production-ready solutions. You are comfortable leading projects independently and thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving environment.</p> <p><strong>Requirements:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Master’s or Ph.D. in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Math, Physics, Operations Research, or a related discipline.</li> <li>4+ years of experience in applied science, machine learning, or data science roles, including experience deploying ML models in production environments.</li> <li>Strong background in machine learning (traditional and/or deep learning), statistical modeling, and experimentation.</li> <li>Proficiency in Python and SQL; experience with distributed computing (e.g., Spark).</li> <li>Working knowledge of ML frameworks like scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, and pipeline tools for model training and deployment.</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to own projects end-to-end and deliver measurable business value.</li> <li>Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Qualifications (Helpful, but Not Required):</strong></p> <ul> <li>Experience with discrete optimization, reinforcement learning, recommender systems, and simulation-based modeling.</li> <li>Familiarity with production ML infrastructure, including cloud services (AWS), containerization, and model orchestration/serving.</li> <li>Knowledge of the gaming industry and experience working with game-related AI solutions.</li> <li>Interest in basketball and a willingness to engage with video games as products.</li> </ul> <div class="p-pdf_iframe__page" data-page-number="2"> <div class="textLayer">&nbsp;</div> <div class="textLayer"><span>As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified&nbsp;</span><span>individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in </span><span>the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to </span><span>receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need </span><span>reasonable accommodation.</span></div> <div class="textLayer">&nbsp;</div> <div class="textLayer"><span>Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or </span><span>personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews&nbsp;and&nbsp;when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.</span></div> <div class="textLayer">&nbsp;</div> <div class="textLayer">The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $140,000 -&nbsp; $173,000 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.</div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>#LI-Hybrid</p>